Harrington burglary suspect an apparent suicide

A 45-year-old Greenwood man, suspected in the burglary of a Harrington home, apparently committed suicide while police conducted a search for him

Staff reports

Delaware State Police troopers are investigating a residential burglary that ended with the apparent suicide of the suspect after fleeing into a wooded area in Harrington.

The incident took place at approximately 2 p.m. Saturday when the 45-year-old male burglar forced entry into an unoccupied home in the 700 block of Coon Den Road, Harrington, said police spokesman Sgt. Paul Shavack.

While the suspect was inside, the homeowner returned to the house and confronted him. The suspect ran outside into a wooded area in the rear of the property, with several handguns that had been taken from the house.

Responding troopers kept up a perimeter around the wooded area while Delaware State Police K-9s and the DSP helicopter conducted a search by air. During the search troopers heard a single gunshot come from within the wooded area; they went into the woods and found the suspect suffering from a self inflicted gunshot wound from a handgun that was taken during the burglary. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was turned over to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for autopsy and official cause and manner of death.

Other than saying the suspect was from the Greenwood area, Shavack would not release the suspect's name, citing DSP policy as the death is an apparent suicide.